Why New York Climate Week Isn’t Boring — and 5 Fun Things You Can Do to Make It Yours

Climate Week isn’t just for CEOs and policymakers. It’s a chance for anyone to plug in, whether you’re attending an official showcase or just biking to work with a few friends. Fun and climate action aren’t opposites — they feed each other. And when you connect with community, food, music, or nature, you realize: this is what the future can look like.

The post Why New York Climate Week Isn’t Boring — and 5 Fun Things You Can Do to Make It Yours appeared first on Green Prophet.

Football star Hakan Çalhanoğlu and his wife Sinem announced the creation of the Çalhanoğlu Forest, in partnership with My Lovely Planet (MLP), a Web3 mobile game that transforms gameplay into real-world tree planting.

Turkey is a natural paradise. Sailing along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts reveals miles of untouched beaches, wild mountains, and fragrant forests. It is hard to believe such beauty still exists in a world where development and fire threaten our last remaining carbon sinks.

And thanks to a new initiative hosted by a football star and an online game, Turkey is about to get a lot more trees.

Last year, Green Prophet highlighted the inspiring story of Şehmus Erginoglu, a man in his 70s who spent 30 years planting 11,000 trees on a wasteland in his hometown of Mardin. His devotion transformed barren land into a living forest (read that story here). Like the French allegory The Man Who Planted Trees, Erginoglu proved that one person’s commitment can heal landscapes for future generations.

Today, football legend Hakan Çalhanoğlu is expanding this tradition of ecological heroism—through gaming online and in the real world. 

A Forest Born from Football and Gaming

On September 18, 2025, international football star Hakan Çalhanoğlu and his wife Sinem announced the creation of the Çalhanoğlu Forest, in partnership with My Lovely Planet (MLP), a Web3 mobile game that transforms gameplay into real-world tree planting.

“Football has given me so much, and now I want to give something back, not just to my country, but to the world,” said Çalhanoğlu. “With My Lovely Planet, fans can have fun and directly join me in bringing impact while enjoying the game. Together, we can make gaming meaningful.”

MLP has already planted 380,000 trees worldwide. Built by the gaming veterans behind Candy Crush, Royal Match, and Fortnite, and selected by Google’s #WeArePlay program, the game proves that the hours people spend swiping screens can translate into ecological recovery.

“We’re building more than a game. We’re building a movement where entertainment fuels real-world action,” said Clément Le Bras, Founder and CEO of My Lovely Planet. “The Kuşadası project is just the beginning – and partnering with Hakan allows us to inspire millions of fans to make a difference, one download at a time.”

Healing After the Fires

The Çalhanoğlu Forest will take root in Kuşadası, Aydın Province, an area devastated by wildfires June, 2024. Like in Europe, Los Angeles, and Canada, Turkey has suffered massive losses from climate change–driven fires. Rebuilding these landscapes requires urgent cooperation and long-term monitoring.

The initiative’s first phase will plant 10,000 saplings, covering an area equivalent to 50 football fields. This reforestation effort is financed by Çalhanoğlu himself. Native species—Turkish pine (Pinus brutia), oak (Quercus spp.), and select fruit/value trees—will ensure resilience against future droughts and fires.

But Phase 1 is only the beginning. Because planting trees and taking care of them requires a village. Coldplay figured this out after they planted mango trees that later died. 

In Phase 2, gamers worldwide can download My Lovely Planet, play, and directly contribute to planting more trees alongside Hakan and Sinem. Each in-game action unlocks a real-world tree, grown under the supervision of the Turkish Tohum Association (Tohum Eğitim Kültür ve Doğa Derneği).

This system of play-to-restore means ecological recovery is no longer limited to philanthropists or governments—it becomes a collective, gamified mission accessible to anyone with a smartphone.

MLP’s approach is simple but radical: entertainment should have an ecological consequence. Every swipe, match, or level passed results in tangible reforestation.

This concept mirrors earlier environmental movements where people were encouraged to plant a tree for every child born, or every wedding celebrated. I planted a fig tree when I got married and an olive tree when my daughter was born  – but that’s just a few trees. MLP scales it for the digital generation: trees for every download, every victory, every hour of fun.

By embedding reforestation into daily play, the initiative bypasses the apathy often felt toward distant environmental problems. Climate action becomes seamless, enjoyable, and habitual. 

Legacy, Literature, and Lessons

As a teenager in Canada, I remember reading The Man Who Planted Trees (L’homme qui plantait des arbres) by French author Jean Giono. It told the story of Elzéard Bouffier, a shepherd who spent decades reforesting a barren valley in Provence. Though fictional, the story inspired countless people to believe in the quiet power of persistence. There is also the story of Miss Rumphius, popular today as a children’s book about a woman who dedicated her life to planting lupine seeds.

Today, Çalhanoğlu’s project echoes that message—while updating it for the digital age. Instead of one shepherd or one man from Mardin planting alone, millions can now plant together with their thumbs. The symbolism is powerful: a footballer, known for precision and endurance, redirecting the energy of his fans toward something larger than sport. 

The Çalhanoğlu Forest also demonstrates how global cooperation can emerge in unexpected forms. It links international sport, tech innovation, grassroots NGOs, and climate resilience into a single story of hope.

In a world increasingly defined by division, here is a chance to unite over something universal: the need for shade, clean air, and forests for our children. So, plant a tree. Play a game. And make Miss Rumphius proud.

::My Lovely Planet

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